Bowling pin and base therefor



June 1, 1954 R. MJELLIS BOWLING PIN AND BASE THEREFOR Filed June 23, 1950 INVENTOR ROBERT M. ELLIS ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1954 BOWLING PIN AND BASE THEREFOR Robert M. Ellis, Basking Ridge, N. 3., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Machine & Foundry Company, New York, N. Y a corpration of New Jersey Application June 23, 1950, Serial No. 169,841

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bowling pins and more particularly to improvements in bowling pins having reinforcing and wear resisting bases which are attached to and form an integral part of such bowling pins, and to improved reinforcing and wear resisting bases for bowling pins.

One of the main disadvantages of bowling pins used in the game of bowling is their relatively short life. When struck again and again by a bowling ball, and in hitting against one another when rolling in the alley and falling into the pit, the wood is battered, dented and chipped, and sooner or later each pin used is rendered unfit for further service. One of the parts of a bowling pin most susceptible to rapid deterioration due to being hit by balls and banging against other pins and parts of the alley as they are struck by a ball, or fall into the pit of a bowling alley is the butt end, and especially the edge part of the pin at the butt end or the bottom of a pin which rests on a bowling alley.

Attempts have been made in the past to increase the life of bowling pins, and overcome and eliminate the wear of the butt ends of bowling pins by providing therefor bases of various types for attachment to butt ends of bowling pins. So far as is known, these attempts have not been satisfactory either because such bases either fell oif in use and/or had characteristics which were so diiferent from natural wood that scores obtained with such pins were sub-standard, and resulted in the discontinuance of the use of such bases.

The present invention constitutes a satisfactory solution of the problem. According to the invention, there are provided bowling pins having reinforcing and wear resisting bases which can readily be attached to bowling pins, and which not only cannot be removed therefrom without their destruction, but also have characteristics which result in bowlers obtaining scores which compare favorably with scores obtained with natural solid or laminated wood pins.

It is an object of the invention therefore to provide a novel bowling pin having an improved type of reinforcing and wear resisting base secured to the butt end thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel bowling pin having a reinforcing and wear resisting base secured thereto, which base is provided with a collar adapted to fit about a central core formed on the butt end of such pin, which collar has a ring or annular portion provided with means for locking the base to the butt end of the bOWling pin to which it is attached.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel bowling pin having a reinforcing and wear resisting base secured thereto which base is provided with a collar adapted to fit about a central core formed on the butt end of such pin, which rim or collar has a flexible ring or annular portion provided with means projecting therefrom for locking the base to the butt end of the bowling pin on which it is placed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel bowling pin of the type having a reinforcing and wear resisting base attached to its butt end, which base is provided with means for looking it in permanent position upon the butt end of a pin to which it is attached without requiring the use of adhesive.

The invention further consists in the provision of a novel bowling pin having a modified butt end to which is secured a reinforcing and wear resisting base, preferably of plastic material, which base is formed with a rim or collar having spaced flexible concentric rings, at least one of which is provided with locking means for securing the base upon the butt end of the pin.

The invention also consists in a novel bowling pin base which can readily be attached to the base of a bowling pin and where it forms substantially an integral part thereof such that it cannot be removed without great difficulty involving the destruction of the base and the pin.

The invention also consists in the provision of a novel base for the butt end of a bowling pin which is readily attached thereto and conforms with the pin to form a substantially integral, permanent part of the bowling pin.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bowling pin base adapted to be applied readily to a reduced part of the butt end of a bowling pin, which base is provided with an integral locking portion which grips the butt end of the pin and clinks firmly thereto, preventing its removal during normal use of the pin to which it is attached.

The invention also has for its object the provision of an improved bowling pin base having an upstanding rim or collar including a plurality of flexible concentric rings which allow radial flexing when the base is being aflixed to the reduced end of a bowling pin, and wherein at least one of the rings firmly locks the base to the butt end of a bowling pin where it conforms with the side taper of the lower end of a pin adjacent its butt end, and to all intents and purposes becomes substantially an integral part of the pin.

a further object of the invention to provide a novel bowling pin base formed of a material which is resistant to wear, and substantially the equivalent of wood insofar as frictional resistance and resiliency are concerned, and which can be attached to the butt end of a pin and secured thereto against removal only with substantial destruction of the base.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel bowling pin base formed of a plastic which is resistant to wear and breakage, and which is substantially the equivalent of the wood from which bowling pins are made insofar as frictional resistance and resiliency are concerned, and which when aflixed to the prepared end of a bowling pin, becomes securely attached thereto without the aid of adhesive and cannot be removed therefrom without substantial destruction of the base.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in View, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like elements,

Figure l is a cross sectional view showing a part of a bowling pin with a preferred form of the invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a preferred form of bowling pin base made in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified way of looking a base to the butt end of a bowling pin;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified type of base affixed to the butt end of a bowling pin;

Figure 5 is a partial, sectional view showing an additional modified type of base having selfattaching means for securing it to the butt end of a bowling pin; and

Figure 6 is a partial sectional View of another modified form of base, embodying the invention, attached to the butt end of a bowling pin.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate a preferred form of the invention and show a base 38 attached to the butt end of a bowling pin it which is reduced in any suitable manner,

as by being turned down in a lathe, to provide a center portion or core 12 in which is formed a circumferential groove i i, a bottom face it, and an inwardly directed annular groove it be tween core 12 and annular flange :5 of pin it. While a single circumferential groove it has been shown in core 12, if desired, a plurality of such grooves could be provided. Also, instead of the single groove or grooves i4, core 12 could be provided with a plurality of recesses for a purpose described hereinafter.

In the preferred form of bowling pin base disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, designated generally 39, it will be seen that it consists of two main portions: a skirt or base portion 32, having tapered sides conforming with the sides of a pin to which base is attached, and an upstanding rim or collar 33. Rim or collar 33 has formed integrally therewith two spaced concentric rings, an outer ring 34 and an inner ring 38. The inner face of ring 36 which bears against core l2 of pin i9 is provided with suitable looking means which engage suitable complementary locking means on core l2, such that when the locking means of the base 30 and core 12 are in engagement, the base is firmly and securely looked upon pin Hi.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, ring 36 is provided with an integral outwardly projecting bead 38 of suitable cross sectional shape which engages with and seats itself in a circumferential groove l4 formed in core 52. Bead 38 preferably is provided with a tapered face 39 and a flat under-face 48 which hooks onto and bears against the bottom edge of groove it for locking base 35 in operative position on the pin. Other suitable shapes of beads could be used, as for example, the bead could be rounded as disclosed in Figure 5 referred to hereinafter. The tapered face 39 tends generally to act as a cam and assists in flexing ring 33 outwardly as face 3% moves along core l2 when base is being pressed home on the butt of a pin it.

The height of the two rings 34 and 35 is equal to but not greater than the depth of groove l8 so that when the base 33 is forced onto center portion i2, rings 34 and 36 iit snugly against the upper surface ll! of groove H3. Similarly, upper face 35 of skirt portion 32 of base 38 is shaped to conform with face it against which it fits when positioned upon the butt end of pin it.

When a base 39 is being affixed to the prepared butt end of a pin it and rim or collar 33 moves over the center portion or core I2, rings as and 33 flex towards each other and yet remain free from rupture or other damage. That is, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, ring 36 can swing outwardly relative to core 12 towards ring 3 as it is moved over center portion l2 and remains thus flexed until bead 33 engages and seats itself in groove it when base 38 is pressed home to its final oper ative position. So also ring 34 can flex radially inwardly towards ring 36 and seat itself properly in groove 18 when base 39 is pressed home. When properly seated on the prepared butt end of pin Ill, face 35 of skirt portion 32 of base 39 engages and seats itself against face It on the butt end of pin it. In Figures 1 and 2, head 33 is located at the top of inner ring 36. If desired, it could be located at any other position on ring 36 and project therefrom into engagement with a complementary locking opening or groove in core l2 of a bowling pin it.

In Figure 3, bowling pin H] is provided with a circumferential projection or flange 50 at the top of groove i8. Flange 50 constitutes a circular locking wedge which, as illustrated, may be triangular in cross section. Flange 56 performs the function of projecting into the space between rings 34 and 36 such that when base 39 is pressed home into seated arrangement upon and against the prepared butt end of a bowling pin, flange 5t, because of its engagement with the inner edges of spaced rings 34 and 36, maintains rings 3t and 36 in spread apart relationship, and bead 33 is held positively in groove M in pin it.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of base, designated generally Sil, which is made in accordance with the invention. Base 65 is essentially the same in construction as base 30 described hereinabove, except that upstanding rim or collar BI is formed with two concentric rings 62 and 6G each having a locking bead similar to bead 38 shown in base 30 in Figures 1 and 2. Outer ring 62 is provided with a locking bead 63 seated in a circumferential groove 65 formed in pin l2; inner ring 64 is provided with an integral outwardly extending locking bead 61 seated in a circumferential groove 69 formed in core portion iii of a bowling pin 12. As in the case of bead 38 formed on ring 36 of base 30 described hereinabove, beads 63 and 61 may be of any suitable cross section. Preferably they are the same in cross section as bead 38. While beads 63 and 67 are indicated as being formed adjacent the top portions of rings 62 and E i respectively, if desired, they may be located elsewhere thereon provided that they are located on the outer surface of rings 62 and 54 where, due to the flexing of the rings 62 and 54 toward each other as base St is pressed home into proper seated relationship on the butt end of a pin, the flexing of the rings allow rim portion 61 to move into circumferential groove 68 and be properly seated therein.

In the modified form of bowling pin and base disclosed in Figure 5, the base which is designated generally 80 is provided with a skirt or bottom portion 82 and an upstanding rim or collar 84 adapted to fit snugly in annular groove El between core 90 and flange 85. At its top portion, rim or collar as is reduced as at $6 to provide a ring 88 which can flex outwardly or into the space 9| between the outer face of ring 88 and annular flange 85 of pin 92 as base 88 is pressed home on core 9t of the butt end of bowling pin 92 prepared to receive base 80. Ring 88 has formed integrally thereon an outwardly extending bead 89 which, when base 80 is pressed home, seats itself in groove 94, and due to the resiliency and flexing nature of ring 88, maintains itself seated in circumferential groove 94 formed in core 98 such that base 8E! is securely held upon bowling pin 92 against removal therefrom. Bead 89 has a cross section such as indicated in Figure 5. As indicated in Figure 5, the top edge of ring 88 preferably is rounded in order to permit it to slide over core 90 more readily as base 8 is pressed home on the pin. If desired, however, it could have the same general cross section as the forms indicated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, bowling pin I is provided with a base designated generally I02 having a skirt or bottom portion IM and an upstanding rim or collar H36 integral therewith. The top portion of rim or collar Hit is provided with two spaced concentric rings Ida and lit generally of the same construction as the rings disclosed in the base shown in Figures 1,

2, 3 and i. It will be noted, however, that inner ring i It is formed with a circumferential groove H2 into which, when base I02 is pressed home into seated arrangement on the butt end of pin 2%, extends a circumferential outwardly projecting flange lid formed on bowling pin ids. Ehe engagement of flange II 4 with complementary groove H2 in base I 02 locks base 502 securely upon bowling pin IM. The upper edge of ring till preferably is rounded as at MS in order to enable ring lit to slip easily over flange lid as base I92 is pressed home into seated arrangement on bowling pin I00.

Bases 35, 5D, 80 and I02, preferably are made of a plastic such as ethyl cellulose, vinyl chloride, cellulose acetate-butyrate, or other suitable ma terial having some characteristics which are similar to the wood from which a bowling pin is made. Insofar as the application and use of these bases are concerned, it is immaterial whether a pin is made from a solid wood block or is of laminated construction, or a combination of both since bases made in accordance with the invention can be afiixed equally well to either type of pin. It is desirable, however, that bases be formed of a material which has a coefficient of friction as close as possible to the wood from 6 which a pin is made in order that when a pin, provided with a base made in accordance with this invention is struck by a ball or moving pin, it will slide or move on a bowling alley substan tially the same amount or distance as would a pin made entirely of wood. It is also desirable that the material from which a base is made, have resiliency substantially the same or as nearly the same as the actual wood to which the base is attached. In this way when a pin is struck, it will react in substantially the same manner as does a wooden pin, and scores obtained will be approximately the same. The materials referred to above have satisfied these conditions and therefore are suitable for use in forming acceptable bases such as shown in the drawings.

Bases made in accordance with the disclosures in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive and described hereinabove make unnecessary the use of adhesives in their firm attachment to the butt ends of bowling pins. The bases described hereinabove can be applied to the prepared butt ends of bowling pins in any suitable manner. For example, base 39 can be cold pressed onto core I2 of pin H3 with face 35 of skirt 32 seated against pit butt face It and rim or collar 33 positioned in groove It with bead 36 looking the base securely in operative position. As indicated in Figures 1 and 3, the dimensions of base 30 are such that there is a tight fit between the base and coacting surfaces of the butt end of a pin engaged thereby. The bases disclosed in Figures 4, 5 and 6 can also be attached to bowling pins in the same manner.

Bases made in accordance with the invention can also be heated and placed on the prepared butt ends of pins. In the case of base 30, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, for example, base 30 encircles a core I2 with the faces and parts of each base fitting snugly against the prepared bases of the butt end of pin I t to which it is afiixed and in the groove M. When base 3% is thus attached to pin I0, rings 34 and 36 fit snugly within the groove I8, and locking bead 38 is seated in circumferen' tial groove I l. When base 30 cools to normal room temperature, it shrinks somewhat on the butt end of the pin to which it is aiiixed and head 38 locks it firmly thereupon. Bases 90, 8G and IE2 described hereinabove can be attached to bowling pins Ill, 9 and Hill.

One method of heating bases for attac rnent to bowling pins includes the step of placing them in a bath of hot fluid, such as water, at about A period of 15 minutes has been found to be suitable, although a longer period could be used. Another method would be to place a base to be attached to a pin in a heated chamber such as an oven, for a short period of time. This would vary depending upon the temperature. For example, if the chamber were approximately 200 a satisfactory heat could be obtained in about 15 minutes. If the temperature were increased, a less period would be necessary.

The invention, above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular embodiment selected to illustrate the invention are but a few of the possible concrete forms which my invention may assume. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structures shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a bowling pin having its butt end provided with a central core, an annular groove, and a circumferential groove formed in said core, of a base of wear resisting material attached to said butt end of said pin and forming a bottom therefor, said base comprising an annular skirt member having an upstanding flexible rim extension encircling said core and seated in said annular groove, a plurality of spaced concentric flexible annular rings formed on the free end of said rim, and means on on of said rings engaging said circumferential groove and locking said base on said pin.

2. lhe combination with a bowling pin having its butt end provided with a bottom face, a central core, an annular groove, and a circumferen tial groove formed in said core; of a base of plastic material attached to said butt end of said pin and shaped to conform with the shape of the base of said pin and form a wear resisting bottom therefor, said base comp-rising a skirt portion engag ing said butt end of said pin with the upper face of said skirt portion in contact with said bottom face of said butt end of said pin, a rim integral with said skirt portion and extending upwardly therefrom substantially at right angles to said upper face of said skirt portion, an inner and an outer flexible ring formed on the free end of said rim, and a locking bead formed on said inner ring engaging said circumferential groove in said core to lock said base on said butt end of said pin.

3. The combination with a bowling pin having a butt end provided with a central axial core, an annular groove surrounding said core, and a circumferential groove in said core, of a base of plastic wear resisting material attached to said butt end of said pin, said base comprising an annular member encircling said core, spaced annular concentric rings on said member extending into said annular groove, and a locking bead on one of said rings projecting into said circumfei ential groove and securing said base to said pin.

4. The combination with a bowling pin having a butt end provided with a central axial core, an annular groove surrounding said core, and a circumferential groove in said core, of a base of plastic wear resisting material attached to said butt end of said pin, said base comprising a main body portion and an annular member projecting substantially at right angles outwardly from said body portion encircling said core, spaced annular concentric rings formed on the free end of said member extending into said annular groove, and complementary locking means on one of said rings and said pin, locking said base on said pin.

5. A base for a bowling pin comprising an annular member having a skirt portion having an upper face adapted to seat against the butt end of a bowling pin, said base including a coaxial upstanding flexible rim extending outwardly substantially at right angles from said face of said base, and spaced concentric annular rings formed integrally on the top portion of said rim.

6. The base defined in claim including outwardly projecting locking means formed on the outer faces of each of said rings.

7. A plastic base adapted to be attached to the butt end of a bowling pin and form reinforcing and wear resisting bottom therefor, comprising a body having a central bore and tapered sides conforming generally to the taper of the sides of the butt end of a bowling pin, said body having spaced bottom and top faces, an annular rim extending outwardly from said top face of said body having a bore coaxial with and forming a part of said bore of said body, spaced annular concentric rings formed on the free end of said rim, and a locking bead formed on at least one of said rings.

8. A base adapted to be attached to the butt end of a bowling pin and form a reinforcing and wear resisting bottom therefor, said base being formed from a plastic having qualities of resiliency and hardness, and a coefficient of friction substantially the same as the material from which bowling pins are made, said base comprising a body having a central bore and tapered sides conforming generally to the taper of the sides of the butt end of a bowling pin, said body having a substantially flat bottom face, and a top face spaced therefrom, said top face including an outer annular substantially fiat skirt portion and an upstanding annular collar projecting outwardly from said skirt portion, having a bore coaxial with and forming a part of said bore of said body, said collar having an annular slot formed in the top thereof, thereby providing two spaced concentric annular rings extending longitudinally from the end of said collar, and locking means formed on at least one of said rings adapted to enact with complementary means on a bowling pin for locking said base to a bowling pin.

9. A base adapted to be attached to the butt end of a bowling pin and form a reinforcing and wear resisting bottom therefor, comprising a body having a central bore and tapered sides conforming generally to the taper of the sides of the butt end of a bowling pin, said body having spaced bottom and top faces, an integral annular collar having a flexible terminal extension extending upwardly from the plane of said top face of said body and having a bore coaxial with said bore of said body, said flexible terminal extension being provided with locking means and having a cross sectional area less than the cross sectional area of said collar and being formed on the free end of said collar.

10. The invention defined in claim 3, wherein one of said rings is provided with a recess, and locking means on said pin projecting into said recess and securing said base to said 11. The combination with a bowling pin having a butt end provided with a central core and an outer concentric annular flange spaced therefrom and a circumferential groove in said core, of a base of wear resistant material encircling said core and forming the butt end of said pin, an annular outwardly extending collar on said base fitting snugly in the space between said core and flange, the free end of said collar being provided with a flexible locking extension having a cross sectional area less than the cross sectional area of said collar from which said extension projects, and lockin means formed on said flexible extension of said collar and projecting into said groove in said core to lock said base on said bowling pin.

12. The combination with a bowling pin having its butt end provided with a central core, an annular flange and an annular groove between said core and flange, of a base comprising an annular plastic wear resisting member having a central bore encircling said core of said pin, a collar on said member projecting into and substantially coextensive with said annular groove, a flexible extension having a cross sectional area less than the cross sectional area of said collar formed on the free end of said collar, locking means in said annular groove of said pin, and complementary locking means on said flexible extension of said collar for securing said base on said butt end of said bowling pin.

13. The combination with a bowling pin hav ing its butt end provided with a cenral core, an annular groove, and a circumferential groove 9 formed in said core, of a base of wear resisting material attached to said butt end of said pin and forming a bottom therefor, said base comprising an annular member having an upstanding collar encircling said core, said collar having a base thickness substantially equal to the Width of said annular groove, and reduced at its outer free end to form at least one flexible locking ring, and locking means on said ring engaging said circumferential groove and locking said base to said butt end of said pin.

14. The combination with a bowling pin having its butt end provided with a reduced central core, an annular groove and an annular flange, of a base comprising an annular wear resisting member having a cenral bore encircling said core of said pin, an integral annular flexible collar formed on said member and extending outwardly therefrom projecting into said annular groove,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 649,745 Niemeyer May 15, 1900 1,077,664 Ankenmann Nov. 4, 1913 1,182,160 Fournier May 9, 1916 1,322,684 Fournier Nov. 25, 1919 1,585,123 Sheldon May 18, 1926 2,008,352 Fegley et a1 July 16, 1935 2,517,116 Klinger Aug. 1, 1950 

